I need to detect loops using H/W. I am wondering whether it is
possible to detect loops just by detecting backward branches. What
would be the approximate success rate for this scheme? What are the
other instances where backward branches will be used? Are there any
tools by which I can measure this for a given application?

Thanks
Kugan
[Hardware loop detection has been around for a long time. The 360/91
did it with a simple backward branch check in the late 1960s. -John]